MASERU —
A millionaire political novice won the most votes in legislative elections in
Lesotho but fell short of securing a parliamentary majority that could have
ended long-running political gridlock, officials said on Monday.
اضافة اعلان
Revolution for
Prosperity (RFP), a party set up only six months ago by businessman Sam
Matekane, 64, won 56 out of 120 seats in parliament, according to final results
published by the southern African country’s electoral commission.
The small
mountain kingdom has been governed for the past decade by a string of coalition
governments that have proved fractious and frail, and no premier has served out
a full five-year term.
“Thousands of
voters across the entire country endured long queues to exercise their
democratic right,” said Mphasa Mokhochane, chairman of the
Independent Electoral Commission.
Matekane, who
styles himself as a champion of the country’s business community and was
considered an outsider in the vote, came close to an outright win but will now
have to secure the support of smaller parties to form a government.
“His track
record and people’s anger towards other parties won him votes,” said Tlohang
Letsie, a politics lecturer at the National University of Lesotho.
“People see him
as their messiah and that has its own pressure. He will have to work hard to
make people... happy.”
The Democratic
Congress party led by Mathibeli Mokhothu came in second securing 29 lawmakers.
The
All Basotho Convention party, which led the outgoing government, suffered a sharp drop in
support, winning only eight seats.
Lesotho, which
is completely surrounded by South Africa, ranks among the world’s poorest
countries, with more than 30 percent of its population living on less than
$1.90 a day.
‘Prosperity is
life’
In an interview with AFP before the elections, Matekane said he hoped
to turn things around, bringing his business skills to the government to
relaunch the economy and tackle public debt and unemployment.
“Our country is
sinking. So, we have to try and save (it) as businesspeople,” he said.
A
philanthropist, he has become a popular figure in the kingdom, building
schools, a stadium and even a theatre.
He funds
scholarships, sponsors the national football federation and has helped with the
purchase of vaccines during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
About 1.5
million people were registered to vote in the October 7 election. More than 50
parties were in the running.
Outgoing Prime
Minister Moeketsi Majoro of the ABC did not seek another term, after being
ousted as party head earlier this year.
His predecessor
Thomas Thabane was forced to step down in 2020 after being accused of ordering
the murder of his estranged wife. Charges against him were dropped in July.
On Saturday, the
day after the vote, a small crowd of Matekane’s supporters gathered in the
capital, Maseru, chanting “Prosperity is life!” to celebrate an early lead in
the count.
“We did it, we
are winning,” said 40-year-old Mamamello Shoaepane.
“I come from the
mountains, we have no food, no water, no nothing. The RFP is going to change
that”.
The 120-seat
parliament is chosen by a mixed electoral system — 80 lawmakers are voted in by
constituents, while another 40 seats are distributed proportionally.
A constitutional
monarchy where the king has no formal power, Lesotho has long been beset by
political turmoil that has hampered development.
It has been buffeted by
coups and attempted coups since independence from Britain in 1966.
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